Coupler



E.l P. KINNE Nav. 27, `1934.

COUPLER Filed June 9, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ...Tww QN. I( QS VII.. 1

Llwmw@ E.. P. KINNE 1,981,918

COUPLER Filed June 9, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 27, 1934.

.Patented ov. 27, Y v

UNITED STATES APATENT ori-ics conm Edmund' P. Rinne, Alliance, Ohio, to

American Steel Foundries, Chicago, Ill., a oorporation of. New Jersey Application June 9, 1930, Serial No. 459,871

11 Claims. (Cl. 213-50) This invention pertains to draft rigging for to prevent any blows on the cotter or other railway rolling stock, and more particularly to key fasteners. that class of draft rigging especially designed for A yet further object is to provide a coupler reapplication to the,underframes of railway cars, taining the advantages of the standard'A. R. A.

o and includes,`in combination with car `sills, means coupler; one which includes an efficient guide 60 for connecting a coupler to the draft mechanism to maintain the coupler shank in proper position,

and for connecting the draft mechanism to the adequate provision for vertical angular movecar underframe. l ment without pinching the key in either the cou- It is an object of this invention to provide, in pler or yoke, positive emergency connection in the ,'10 combination, a vertical key connection adapted event of yoke or draft gear breakage, removal to permit relative movement between the yoke and replacement of coupler and draft gear withand the coupler, means for supporting and guidout taking down the entire draft attachments, ing at least one of the followers, and meansffor and also to provide an arrangement which in limiting the forward movement of one of said folcludes all ofthe advantages claimed for the so- -l lowers. called swivel butt arrangement, and includes Another object isto provide a draft rigging so additional advantages such as greater simplicity, constructed andarranged as to transmit excessive increased strength, and increased bearing surloads to the car underframe without detriment faces. i to the latter, said draft rigging including averti@` Another further object is to provide a con- 2i) cal key connection between the coupler and the ,struction which is inexpensive to make and mainyoke, a horizontal key connection between the` tain, one which fullls all requirements of manfollower and draft sills, and means for trans-v ufacture and service, and also is readily replacemitting stresses to the draftsills. able by parts of standard construction without Still another object is to obtain a strong and material changesin the car or draft appliance.` serviceable radial shank Jconnection` in the A further additional object is to provide a 0 simplest possible manner; one which will have coupler construction having the advantage of the least possible surfaces subject to wear which the radial coupler connection, though the Fconresult in slack in the connection; one in which structionnnaybe applied to cars built for the `vradial (or angling) action of the coupler shank Farlow attachments, Whether a horizontal or 3@ lis provided forwhile maintaining equalized pull vertical plane yoke be, used. 85

on the yoke jaws'in tension, and full'butt end lWith these and Yval'iOlli other Objects in View, .contact area and equalized pressure on draft theinventlon may consist of certain novel feagear or follower under bufng stresses. tures of construction and operation, as will be Yet another object isto provide aconstruction more fully described and Particularly Pointed -`f-vvherein thel pivotal action between the coupler out in the speoicatiomdrawns and claims ap- 90 'i 'connectionswith keys or small bearing pieces and characters are -used to designate like parts- '0 wherein' the vertical key is of ideal design to pro- Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional top plan and yoke is provided for by the same piece which pended hereto. connects'l them forpulling action', that is, the 1n the drawings, which illustrate an embodivertical key, wherein there areno superfluous ment of the device and wherein like reference 95L f vide'large bearing surface, free pivotal action and -view of one application of the draft appliance I large area to resist shearing. inoperative position with respect to the draft I A further object is to'provide a construction, sills.; wherein generous bearing area is provided at key Figure 2y is a longitudinal sectional elevation 100- bearings and .butt bearingsinsuring minimum ofthe draft appliance shown in Figure 1;

wear,andwherein large sectional areasintension, Figure 3 is a transversevsectional elevation compression and shear are also provided. taken substantially in the plane as indicated by A still further object ofl the" invention is-to the line 3-3 of Figure 1:

` provideaconstructioninwhichthe coupler angles Figure 4 is a transverse sectional elevation, 105

freely vregardless of the compression in the draft with certain parts omitted, taken substantially'- gear to thereby permitcoupling on curves within the plane as indicated by the line 4-4 of out delay or effort, and toathereby eliminate Figure 1; l

transmission of the side movement to the coupler Figure 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal seckey to avoid wear of the key and keyways and tional top plan view of a modified form of draft 110 appliance showing the same in operative position with respect to draft sills;

Figure 6 is a longitudinal side elevation of the follower shown in Figure 5; and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional top plan view showing a modied form of back stop casting associated with the draft sills and Yoke rear end.

Referring rst of all more particularly to the form of draft appliance shown in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, the draft sills 10 are connected to the back stop casting 12 by fastening means such as rivets 14, and to the transoms 16 as by means of the rivets 18, the ends of said sills being connected by the striking casting 20 provided with a lower substantially H-shaped portion 22 forming a support for the carry iron 24, the striking casting defining. an opening 26 through which the coupler butt 28 extends. The striking casting is provided with an inwardly extending flange 27 to which the floor 30 and the end sill 32 are secured as by means of rivets 34. The striking casting is also provided with an inwardly extending cheek plate portion 36 dening one end of the keyways 38, the opposite -end of the keyways 38 being defined by cheek plates 40 secured to the sills and defining aligned keyways 42. 'Ihe plates 40 have widened portions 44 adjacent the end of the keyways 38 and the outer end of the keyways 42 which extend inwardly of the sills 10 and provide an increased bearing surface for the transverse key 46 extending through thel keyways 42 and the follower 48.

A vertical plane yoke 50 is disposed between the sills having the end portion 52 connecting the upper and lower arms 54 and normally abutting the back stop casting 12. The yoke is of the hooded type having the upper and lower portions 56 connected by the vertical straps 58', said straps being provided with aligned keyways 60 adapted to be disposed in way of the horizontal keyways 38 for the reception of a horizontal key in the event of an emergency where a horizontal key coupler may replace the coupler 28. The upper and lower portions 56 of the yoke are provided with vertically extending faces 62 which are disposed to contact the vertical faces 64 of the striking casting in case there is a failure of the draft gear. The upper and lower portions of the yoke are provided with -aligned keyways 66 which are parallel sided and are adapted to receive the elongated vertically disposed key 68, said key extending through elongated keyways providedin the coupler butt 28 which are substantially the same width in a longitudinal direction as the key, saidkeyways in the coupler butt being preferably widened laterally at their outboard end (toward the left as viewed in Figure 1) for permitting angling of the coupler. 'I'he lower portion of'the key is provided with spaced rounded arms '70 adapted to straddle and have sliding engagement with the substantially round retainer '72 disposed in the depending members 74 and 76 forming the cage, said members being integral with the yoke.

The rear of the coupler butt is rounded as at '78 to provide an arcuate surface cooperating with a complementary arcuate surface formed on the -bufng piece or bearing block 80, said block being secured to the coupler butt by means of a tongue 67 embracing the key 68 and extending into a slot in the coupler butt, all as described in application Serial No. 318,350, led yNovember 10, 1928. 'I'he buiing piece has a flat rear surface 82 having bearing engagement with a corresponding at surface on the outboard end of the follower 48. The follower, as shown, is provided with marginal upstanding ribs 84 connected by longitudinal upwardly extending ribs 86, and said follower is provided with a keyway 88 for the reception of the horizontal key 46.

'Ihe follower is provided with outwardly extending arms 90 adapted to have cooperative relationwth the sills or cheek plates whereby'the follower is guided in longitudinal movement so that it'will not angle with respect to the sills, and, as the members 90 embrace the key 46, an increased bearing area is provided to prevent bending of the key by materially reducing the bending moment onthe key. The forward end of the yoke is] widened as at 92 to prevent angling of the yoke to follow the coupler, and the rear end of the yoke is guided by means of the 'blocks 94 secured to the carry iron-96 by means of the rivets 98. A

In buff, the stress is transmitted from the coupler butt to the bung piece, and from the buffing piece to'the follower, and from the follower through the draft gear (indicated by the dot and dash lines), and the stress is then transmitted through the vertical strap 52 to the back stop casting 12 and thence to the sills.

In draft, of course, the stress is transmitted through the vertical key 68 to the yoke, the yoke transmitting the stress through the rear strap 52 and through the draft gear to the follower 48, from the follower 48 to the horizontalkey 46, and

- to the sills through the widened stops defining the outboard end of the keyway 42, it being seen that the stress thus transmitted will be transmitted over the widened rear edge 102 of the follower 48, the extensions in this edge being formed by means of the members90.

In the construction shown in Figures 5 and 6, the yoke, which is substantially of the same construction as has already been described, is, however, of lesser width adjacent the hood. That is, the members 104 corresponding to the members 92 are not so close to the sills, and, in order to provide a guide for the forward end of the yoke or the hooded end of the yoke, the follower 106 is provided with forwardly extending prongs 108 which cooperate with the inside faces of the cheek plates and with the hooded end of the yoke vto maintain the yoke in central position. As be-'.

fore, this follower is provided with a rear edge 110 corresponding to the extended rear edge formed by the members 90 and the same extends substantially the entire distance between the sills so that the bending moment on the key is re'- duced.

In the construction shown in Figure 7, the backstop casting 112 is secured to the sills 10 by means of the rivets 14, as before, said backstop casting being a combination backstop and center bolster ller, and being arranged with a center slot 114 to receive and guide the rear end of the yoke 50. In this arrangement portions 116 of the backstop casting are extended on either side of the yoke end, and the surfaces 118 formed thereon are in alignment and form a substantially continuous rear bearing surface with the draft gear engaging surface 120 ofthe yoke. This arrangement has the feature of providing increased bearing` area for the draft gear and also providing a strong stop at the center of the draft gear which is of great value in connection with gears having control plungers or the like, and it will be seen that this construction forms a strong stop at the outeredges of the draft gear near the sill, which of the invention or the scope of the claims.

1. En a draft mechanism, the combination Yof a. yoke adapted to carry a draft gear, and a front follower member for said gear, said member having guide arms exteriorly of the yoke and engageable therewith to prevent relative lateral movement between said yoke and follower.

2. In a draft mechanism, the combination of a yoke adapted to carry a draft gear, and a" front follower member for said gear, said member having arm members exteriorly of said yoke and engageable with the same to prevent relative lateral movement between said yoke and follower.

3. In a draft-mechanism, the Icombination of a yoke adapted to carry a draft gear and provided with a hooded head portion, and a front follower member for said gear, said member being provided with guide arms exteriorly of said yoke and engageable with said head portion to prevent relative lateral movement between said yoke and follower.

Il. In a draft mechanism, a yoke adapted to carry a draft gear and provided with a hooded head portion, said portion having side enclosure walls, and a front follower member for said gear, said, member being provided with forwardly extending portions exteriorly of said side walls and engageable therewith: to prevent relative lateral movement betweensaid yoke and follower. y A

5. In a draft mechanism, the combination of draft sills, a vertical yoke supported by said sills and provided witha hooded head portion, a coupier movably connected to said yoke and embraced by saidhooded head portion, a draft gear carried by said yoke, and a front follower member for said gear abutting said coupler and movable therewith in buff, said member being disposed between said sills and held against lateral movement thereby, said member having guide portions interposed between said sills and hooded head and engageable with the latter to prevent lateral movement of said yoke relativeto said follower.

6. In a draft mechanism, the combination of draft sills, a vertical yoke supported by said sills and provided with a hooded head portion having side enclosure walls, a coupler movably connected to said yoke and embraced by said hooded head portion, a draft gear carried by said yoke, and a front follower. member for said gear abutting said coupler and movable therewith in buff, said member being disposed between said sills andheld against lateral movement thereby, said member being keyed'to said sills, said member having the combination or- '1. In a draft mechanism, the combinationv ofA draft sills, aJeItical yoke supported by said sills and provided with' a hooded head portion havingside enclosure walls, a coupler movably connected to said yoke and embraced by said hooded head portion, a draft gear carried by said yoke, a front follower member for said gear abutting said coupler and movable therewith in buff, said member being between said sills and held against lateral movement thereby, ya key member movably molmted in said sills for supporting said follower member, said key member extending through said follower member rearwardly of the coupler abutting surface thereof, said follower member having guide portions interposed between said sills and enclosure walls and engageable with the latter to prevent lateral movement of said yoke relative to said follower.

saidsiusand.

8. In a draft mechanism, the combination of f draft sills, a yoke disposed between said sills, a draft gear embraced by said yoke, and a front follower member for said draft gear 'disposed between said sills and held against lateral movement thereby, said follower having portions disposed between said! sills and yoke and engaging the latter to prevent lateral movement thereof relative to said follower.

9. Inu'a draft mechanism, the kcombination of draft sills, a yoke disposed between said sills and provided with a hooded head, 'a draftgear embraced by said yoke, and a front follower member for said draft gear. disposedI between said sills and held against lateral movement thereby,

said follower having -portions disposed between said sills and hooded head portion andengaging the latter to prevent lateral movement thereof relative to said follower.

l0. In a draft mechanism, the combination of draft sills, cheek plates 'connected thereto, a yoke disposed between said sills, a draft gear embraced by said yoke, and a front follower member for said draft gear disposed between said sills and held against lateral movement thereby, said follower.

having portions interposed between said cheek plates and yoke and engaging the sameto prevent lateral movement of said yoke relative'to said follower.

11. In a draft mechanism, the combination of draft sills, cheek plates connected thereto, a yoke .embraced by said sills and having a hooded head portion, a draft gear embraced by said yoke, and a front follower member for said draft. gear disposed between said sills and held against lateral t thereby, said follower having portions between said cheek plates and said I head portion and engageable .therewithto pre` vent lateral movement of said yoke relative to said follower. 1

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